Funeral of 37221 Sgt Alastair "Al" Don, Military Merit Medal (SVN), Cross of Gallantry with Palm (SVN), 161 Bty RNZA, killed in action on 14th September 1965 in South Vietnam.
Date: 
Wednesday, 8 August, 2018

RNZA Association members are invited by the family to attend the funeral of 37221 Sgt Alastair "Al" Don, Military Merit Medal (SVN), Cross of Gallantry with Palm (SVN), 161 Bty RNZA, killed in action on 14th September 1965 in South Vietnam. The funeral service will be held at 1400 hrs on Tuesday 21st August 2018 at Manukau Memorial Gardens cemetery, 361 Puhinui Rd, Papatoetoe, Auckland, which is near Auckland Airport. The RNZA Association will lay a wreath during the service. Medals please.

Sgt Don was killed in action in South Vietnam during the Bty's first major operation in Vietnam, Op BEN CAT, when his Land Rover was hit by a command detonated mine while moving by road with 161 Bty in a Brigade convoy. His body is being repatriated to NZ from Terendak Barracks, Malaysia.

Also killed in action in the same incident was 928518 Bdr Robert "Jock" White, Military Merit Medal (SVN), Cross of Gallantry with Palm (SVN), while two others in the sandbagged rear of the vehicle, L/Bdr Rodney Edwards and NZPA War Correspondent Chris Turver, MNZM survived with wounds.

Rest in Peace Al and Jock

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
UBIQUE
LEST WE FORGET